1. See how the gold has lost its shine,how the pure gold has dulled!The stones of the Temple are scatteredat every street corner.
2. The precious people of Jerusalemwere more valuable than gold,but now they are thought of as clay jarsmade by the hands of a potter.
3. Even wild dogs give their milkto feed their young,but my people are cruellike ostriches in the desert.
4. The babies are so thirstytheir tongues stick to the roofs of their mouths.Children beg for bread,but no one gives them any.
5. Those who once ate fine foodsare now starving in the streets.People who grew up wearing nice clothesnow pick through trash piles.
6. My people have been punishedmore than Sodom was.Sodom was destroyed suddenly,and no hands reached out to help her.
7. Our princes were purer than snow,and whiter than milk.Their bodies were redder than rubies;they looked like sapphires.
8. But now they are blacker than coal,and no one recognizes them in the streets.Their skin hangs on their bones;it is as dry as wood.
9. Those who were killed in the war were better offthan those killed by hunger.They starve in pain and die,because there is no food from the field.
10. With their own hands kind womencook their own children.They became foodwhen my people were destroyed.
11. The Lord turned loose all of his anger;he poured out his strong anger.He set fire to Jerusalem,burning it down to the foundations.
12. Kings of the earth and people of the worldcould not believethat enemies and foescould enter the gates of Jerusalem.
13. It happened because her prophets sinnedand her priests did evil.They killed in the citythose who did what was right.
14. They wandered in the streetsas if they were blind.They were dirty with blood,so no one would touch their clothes.
15. “Go away! You are unclean,” people shouted at them.“Get away! Get away! Don’t touch us!”So they ran away and wandered.Even the other nations said, “Don’t stay here.”
16. The Lord himself scattered themand did not look after them anymore.No one respects the priestsor honors the elders.
17. Also, our eyes grew tired,looking for help that never came.We kept watch from our towersfor a nation to save us.
18. Our enemies hunted us,so we could not even walk in the streets.Our end is near. Our time is up.Our end has come.
19. Those who chased uswere faster than eagles in the sky.They ran us into the mountainsand ambushed us in the desert.
20. The Lord’s appointed king, who was our very breath,was caught in their traps.We had said about him, “We will be protected by himamong the nations.”
21. Be happy and glad, people of Edom,you who live in the land of Uz.The cup of God’s anger will come to you;then you will get drunk and go naked.
22. Your punishment is complete, Jerusalem.He will not send you into captivity again.But the Lord will punish the sins of Edom;he will uncover your evil.